The LSU-Florida game has been postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. Kickoff was scheduled for 11am on Saturday, but a statement from the SEC says they will try to reschedule other league games if possible so that the LSU-Florida matchup can still take place, as both teams have a bye week this season. Before making the decision to postpone the game, LSU had offered to host or travel to a neutral location.

Some are concerned that potential damage from Hurricane Matthew could impact Louisiana’s fight to get more federal aid for flood relief. Congress is expected to return in December to discuss more financial flood relief for Louisiana and what will need to be down to help those impacted by Hurricane Matthew. US Senator Bill Cassidy says it will be an important issue for federal lawmakers to discuss.

Cut 11 (04) “for relief”

Louisiana has already received over $400 million in federal disaster aid, and Governor John Bel Edwards has requested $2.8 billion.

Northwestern State University President Jim Henderson has been appointed president of the University of Louisiana system by the Board of Supervisors. Henderson says he would like to have a more hands on relationship with students in the UL system.

Cut 14 (09) “that’s important”

He says he also wants to see more student involvement at the system level to give them a voice in policy decisions.

Sugar cane grinding season has begun in Louisiana, and the harvest is expected to be better than last year. General Manager of the American Sugar Cane League in Thibodaux, Jim Simon, says prices are expected to go up half a cent from last year’s 24 cents a pound, but…

Cut 7 (08) “nine months”

Simon contributes the success to good agriculture practices from farmers.

Still waiting on a decision from the SEC and Florida about the status of Saturday’s college football game between the Tigers and Gators. We were told yesterday that a decision would be made by noon today, then it was pushed back to two o’ clock and now there are reports a decision on a location and game time will be made by 5:00.

Florida is bracing for the impact of a Category Four Hurricane. Matthew is packing winds of 140 miles hour. If there’s significant damage to Florida, will that hurt efforts by Louisiana’s Congressional delegation to secure more federal flood aid? Senator Bill Cassidy predicts Matthew will create a heightened awareness for a need to help storm-impacted communities…
cut 10 (05) “…little better”
Cassidy says Congress will return in December to discuss more financial flood relief for Louisiana and what will need to be done to help those impacted by Hurricane Matthew.

The UL System Board of Supervisors names Northwestern State President Doctor Jim Henderson as the new leader of the UL System. Henderson believes his healthy relationship with state lawmakers can help the nine universities that make up the UL system…
cut 13 (09) “…really enjoy”
Henderson will take over as UL system president on January 1st.

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal for a new trial. Nagin was convicted in 2014 on public corruption charges. Legal analyst Chick Foret says for the appeal to be heard, Nagin’s lawyers would have had to show there was irreversible error during the trial…
cut 4 (11) “…sentencing guidelines”
Nagin has served two of those ten years.

There are concerns that the potential damage Florida could receive from Hurricane Matthew could interfere with the federal disaster aid coming to Louisiana. But U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy doesn’t think so…:
CUT 9 (07) “having problems”
Congress is expected to return in December to discuss more financial flood relief for Louisiana and what will need to be done to help those impacted by Hurricane Matthew. Louisiana has already received 500 million dollars in federal disaster aid and Governor Edwards has asked for 2.8 billion.

The President has declared an emergency in the state of Florida. And an official announcement about the fate of the LSU/Florida game is slated to be made at 2pm this afternoon and it’s reported that the SEC has now taken over and will ultimately decide when and where the contest will take place. The University of Florida had said Wednesday that it was not going to move the game from Gainesville.

Northwestern State University President Dr. Jim Henderson will become the new president of the University of Louisiana System, after the Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed him to the position. Henderson says he’ll look to reverse the 10 year decline in state funding of higher ed.:
cut 12 (12) “we serve”
He says he looks forward to working with the legislature to resolve many of the issues universities and students are facing.

A day after angry residents in Jefferson Parish gathered to voice their concerns over reports that Parish President Mike Yenni was involved with teenage boys, Yenni announced today that he’d been deployed to Florida to assist with hurricane response. He announced an acting parish president in a recorded memo. Prior to this announcement, Yenni was expected address the allegations involving a 17-year-old boy before the end of the week.

The University of Florida’s latest announcement about the LSU game this weekend is that a final decision on the start time of the contest in Gainsville on Saturday will be made by 2pm as they continue to monitor Hurricane Matthew. The most current forecast keeps Matthew as a Category 4 hurricane at its closest approach to Gainesville.

Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni, under fire after the public learned the FBI is investigating alleged sexually explicit messages sent to a teenage boy, says he has been deployed with his military unit through October 15 to help with the Hurricane Matthew response on the east coast. Prior to this announcement, Yenni was expected address the allegations involving a 17-year-old boy.

The Shreveport Police Department says one of its communications officers has been arrested following a domestic situation with his girlfriend. They say cops responded to a residence where a female advised that 23-year-old Fredrick Freeman had assaulted her. He was arrested on one count of domestic abuse battery with child endangerment and placed on leave.

It’s officially sugar cane grinding season in Louisiana and the harvest is expected to be better than last year. General Manager of the American Sugar Cane League in Thibodaux Jim Simon (see-moan) says it’s still early in the season but there are indications that the sugar content of the cane is very good. He says the mild winter last year really helped the crop get off to a good start…:
CUT 6 (10) “continue growing”
Sugar cane is a 3 billion dollar industry in Louisiana.

US Senator David Vitter has sent a letter to Florida Governor Rick Scott asking him to intervene in the matter of the Gator/LSU game not being moved from Gainesville on Saturday, as a Category 4 hurricane heads to the state. Vitter says the people of Louisiana are very familiar with the dangers associated with hurricanes of this magnitude, and the University of Florida should consider moving or rescheduling the game. Florida has said they only plan to change the time and that announcement is coming at noon.

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear former-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal of his 2014 public corruption conviction. Legal analyst Chick Foret says this means Nagin will have to serve out the remaining 8 years of his 10 year sentence, because there is no other court that can hear his appeal…:
CUT 3 (08) “were meritless”
Nagin is the first New Orleans mayor to be convicted of public corruption.

LSU announces the search has begun to find a new live mascot to replace the ailing Mike VI. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says a traffic stop along I-10 in Port Allen resulted in the seizure of millions of dollars worth of cocaine. They say 44-year-old Jesus Alberto Villafranco, of Deer Park, Texas, was arrested after a search of his vehicle turned up nearly 70 pounds of cocaine hidden in a compartment beneath a tow trailer. Authorities said the total street value of the drugs is more than $3 million.

After announcing the grim news that LSU’s Mike the Tiger has only one to two months to live, LSU says they’re searching for a new young tiger to become Mike VII. But Manager of Captive Wildlife Protection with the Human Society Debra Leahy says the Humane Society has started a petition to end the live mascot program because it would be tragic, if LSU contributes to the cruel animal trade industry.
CUT 7 (10) “deficient diet”

We’re expecting an announcement shortly from The University of Florida updating fans on the time for this Saturday’s LSU-Florida game in Gainsville as Hurricane Matthew is rapidly approaching. LSU’s Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says they are looking at all of their options, but the safety of the fans and the players is most important.
Cut 15 (08) “in Gainesville”

The federal government has set a goal for zero traffic deaths within the next 30 years. The federal transportation department says self-driving cars could make that possible. Louisiana Highway Safety Commissioner Dr. Katara Williams believes autonomous vehicles could play a role in safer highways. But she says it’s too early to tell just yet, as many of these self-driving cars are still in the prototype phase.
Cut 13 (08) “our highways”

Northwestern State University President Jim Henderson is expected to be the new president of the University of Louisiana System, being the only candidate to go before the Board of Supervisors at 11 o’clock today. Henderson says he has immense love for the Natchitoches school, but he says he has ties to many Louisiana universities.
Cut 9 (11) “Southeastern grad”

In the wake of heartbreaking news that Mike the Tiger’s cancer is spreading, LSU announces the search is on for a new live mascot. Mike’s veterinarian Dr. David Baker says they intend to find a young male tiger in need of a good home. He says many times the government places animals in sanctuaries and doesn’t provide the fund for their care…:
cut 4 (09) “will take”
But those who don’t want to see live tigers being used as mascots accuse LSU of fueling exotic animal trade.

Florida football officials believe they’ll still be able to host LSU in Gainesville on Saturday despite the approaching category 4 Hurricane Matthew. The Gators say they start time of 11am may have to change.
LSU Athletics spokesman Michael Bonnette says they are looking at all of the options..:
CUT 16 (09) “into this”
More news is coming down today on this at noon.

The Transportation Department has outlined a plan it says works towards the federal government’s goal of zero traffic fatalities within the next 30 years. Louisiana Highway Safety Commissioner Dr. Katara Williams says self driving cars could eventually be a potential solution but it’s way too early to tell just yet…:
CUT 13 (08) “our highways”
She says they are working hard always to raise awareness about safe driving habits like buckling up, getting off your phone and not driving drunk.

Northwestern State University President Jim Henderson is expected to become the new president of the University of Louisiana System. He goes before the board today as the only candidate. Henderson says if the job didn’t allow him to continue to work with Northwestern, he wouldn’t even consider it. He says he cares about Louisiana’s universities and has ties to many…:
CUT 9 (11) “Southeastern grad”
Henderson has been the Northwestern president since January of 2015.

As Hurricane Mathew churns towards the Florida coast, University of Florida officials say they will not move Saturday’s LSU-Florida game out of Gainesville. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

LSU is looking for a new live mascot now that Mike VI has sadly been given only a couple more months to live due to his cancer spreading. His vet Dr. David Baker says they will focus on finding the tiger that’s best for LSU to become Mike VII…:
Cut 5 (09) “wildlife conservation”

The UL-System Board of Supervisors today is expected to select Northwestern State University President Jim Henderson as its next leader. Henderson is the only candidate being interviewed for the job. He says he wants to do what he can to provide more opportunities for students in Louisiana…:
CUT 10 (07) “that direction”
He says one of the major things he would address as UL-System president is the rising cost of higher education.

A Grand Jury in Baton Rouge has formally charged the former assistant principal accused in the death of Lyntell Washington and her unborn baby. 39-year-old Robert Marks was handed a true bill for second degree murder and second degree feticide. Washington was positively identified as the badly decomposed body found in a ditch in Rosedale in June.

Cops in Monroe say a man is charged for allegedly speeding in excess of nearly 150 miles per hour in his Corvette so his front seat passenger could get the travel reading on Snapchat. John Pruett was booked for one count of reckless operation.